Kyiv woke up to horror on 31 July after a night of massive Russian drone and missile strikes. In one of the war’s most dramatic and heartbreaking stories, 23‑year‑old Veronika miraculously survived being blown out of her ninth‑floor apartment when a Russian Iskander missile struck a residential building in the Sviatoshyn district. Sixteen people have been confirmed dead so far, and rescue operations continue.
After more than three years of war, as peace talks remain stalled, Russia is intensifying attacks on civilians. Ukrainian cities are increasingly vulnerable despite extensive air defense efforts – a reality Kyiv experienced again during this latest overnight assault.
Thrown from the 9th Floor – and survived
As rescue teams combed through the rubble, the story of Veronika stunned even experienced emergency workers.
“I heard an explosion, and a second later I was on the ground,” she told Ukrainian TV channel 1+1.
The blast was so strong it hurled her – still in bed – straight out of her ninth-floor window. She landed outside the building with a broken leg, a concussion, and severe shock. Doctors described her survival as “nothing short of a miracle.”
Hospital director Serhiy Dubrov told Reuters:
“It’s extraordinary. Falling from the ninth floor and sustaining only relatively minor injuries… But she is in deep psychological distress and does not yet know the fate of her parents.”
Her parents were later confirmed dead, their bodies recovered from the debris.
Night of terror in Kyiv
While Veronika’s survival is extraordinary, the wider destruction across Kyiv is overwhelming.
The missile that destroyed her building was part of a massive overnight Russian attack. One Iskander missile evaded air defenses and hit the high‑rise in Sviatoshyn, collapsing an entire section.
- At least 16 people are confirmed dead, including two children.
- More than 130 are injured, 14 of them children.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said it was “the highest number of injured children in one night in Kyiv since the start of the full‑scale war.”
Reuters and ABC News published the moment of Russian strikes on Kyiv overnight on 31 July
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) July 31, 2025
As a result of the attack, 16 people were killed and 155 were injured, including 16 kids. Rescue operations in Kyiv are still ongoing
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Day of mourning
1 August has been declared a day of mourning in Kyiv. Flags will be lowered, and memorial events will be held.
But as many Ukrainians quietly admit, in a country under everyday bombing, every day is a day of mourning.
Ongoing rescues
Rescuers worked through the morning, often tunneling through concrete to reach survivors. A man trapped between floors was freed after three hours, and several others were pulled out alive.
A five-month-old baby was also wounded. “The Russians hit her directly,” said Tymur Tkachenko of the Kyiv City Military Administration.
Victims and damage
Among the dead are:
- 6-year-old karate student Matvii Marchenko
- Senior police lieutenant Liliya Stepanchuk
The strike damaged more than 100 sites across Kyiv, including schools, kindergartens, hospitals, and a mosque. Other districts reported burning cars, shattered windows, and collapsed buildings.
Scale of the Attack
According to Ukraine’s Air Force:
- Russia launched 309 Shahed drones and 8 cruise missiles overnight.
- 288 drones and 3 missiles were intercepted.
- Five missiles hit their targets, including the deadly strike in Kyiv.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote:
“Missile strike. Direct hit on a residential building. People are under the rubble.”
A glimmer of hope
As rescue teams continue to clear debris, Veronika’s miraculous survival has become a symbol of resilience amid devastation.
From the ninth floor to the ground – she lived. But Kyiv, once again, pays a terrible price.